Health & Social Care

This training programme offers you the opportunity to develop your knowledge of the psychological models relevant to the practice of clinical psychology and your clinical skills in this area. Experienced clinical psychologists provide much of your academic teaching and act as placement supervisors for your clinical practice development. You complete training across the lifespan of children and adolescents, working-age adults and older adults, as well as working with special needs and specialist services.

The programme provides training across a range of psychological models, including cognitive behaviour, psychodynamic and systemic approaches. Indirect interventions are encouraged and opportunities to undertake our innovative organisational placements can be provided.

What you study

You are introduced to a range of subjects, including working in the NHS, lifespan psychology, approaches to therapy, research methods, learning disability and special needs. Specialist areas include forensic psychology, neuropsychology, health psychology and substance misuse. Assessment procedures are enacted throughout the course, with a final thesis plus oral examination.

How you learn

There is an emphasis upon developing individual learning goals and pathways of experiences, and you are encouraged to consider and develop your own learning style. You attend a series of formal academic teaching sessions as well as taking part in individual and group tutorials. Reflective practice is an essential part of the training and the programme provides you with a range of activities and support systems to help promote both your professional and personal learning and development.

How you are assessed

You are continually assessed in various ways, completing both formative and summative work, throughout your training. You complete written pieces of work (ranging from case studies and essays through to a doctoral-level research thesis) as well as oral presentations regarding academic topics and clinical cases. You are expected to acquire a range of clinical competencies within your clinical practice modules which are assessed on placement by your placement supervisors. Progression from one year to another is dependent upon the successful completion of the set modules.

Professional accreditation/placement

The training programme is regularly reviewed and approved through both University procedures and those linked to their professional body, The British Psychological Society (BPS) as well as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Career opportunities

The programme provides the relevant doctorate qualification for graduates to practise as clinical psychologists in the NHS and wider health and social care system, within both privately and publicly funded positions.

Entry requirements

All applicants must apply via the Clearing House in Clinical Psychology. At the time of application, applicants must demonstrate:

• that they meet the Graduate Basis for Chartership with the British Psychological Society (BPS)
• a strong academic attainment in their undergraduate degree (a 2.1 degree or higher), applicants with a 2.2 degree may be considered but must also have completed a master's degree (or higher) to demonstrate clearly their academic abilities
• a minimum of 12 months' relevant clinical experience (not necessarily consecutive)
• an understanding of the importance and contribution research plays within the profession
• a clear commitment and motivation to train as a clinical psychologist
• a good understanding of the role of a clinical psychologist and why they are choosing the profession
• references which are positive and meaningful
• evidence of personal awareness and a recognition and understanding of the importance of self reflection
• the ability to communicate and relate well to others.

Those who are still undergraduates at the time of application will not be considered. The local employing Trust ensures that all individuals accepting a place on the course undergo enhanced criminal records and occupational health checks prior to starting the course.

For additional information please see the entry requirements in our admissions section

More information

• School of Health & Social Care facilities The School of Health & Social Care has amazing purpose-built facilities simulating practice environments such as hospital wards, dental clinics and social care settings. See how students benefit and prepare for practice. (5 mins)
• Doctorate Clinical Psychology Teesside University students and an academic talk about the DClinPsy programme (3 mins)
• Doctorate Clinical Psychology: trainees talk about their first yearLauren Jackson, Shelley Francis and Rebecca Mulholland reflect on what it was like during their first year of training.
• Doctorate Clinical Psychology: trainees talk about their second yearJess Redman and Kathryn Fowles look back to their second year of training and discuss in detail their experiences of the research strand.
• Clinical psychology trainees talk about why they chose TeessideSarah Craven, Jayne Cumbor and Sarah Race, reflect on their experiences at Teesside. They discuss why they chose to train at Teesside, and their experiences of the selection process. They also talk in detail about the Personal and Professional Development (PPD) strand of training.
• Clinical psychology trainees talk about the strengths of the Teesside programmeSarah Craven, Jayne Cumbor and Sarah Race, reflect on their experiences at Teesside. They consider the strengths of Teesside’s programme. They also talk about their clinical placements and their experience of the academic strand of training.
• Clinical psychology trainees talk about the support during their trainingSarah Craven, Jayne Cumbor and Sarah Race, reflect on their experiences at Teesside. They discuss the importance of support during training and how their peer group has enhanced their learning.
• Clinical psychology trainees talk about becoming newly qualified clinical psychologistsSarah Craven, Jayne Cumbor and Sarah Race, reflect on their own personal and professional development, and the role the training programme in facilitating this development. They also consider their transition into becoming newly qualified clinical psychologists.
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